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Living in warm climates, the ankheg dwelt in partially collapsed burrows usually around 40 feet underground.[6][4] The ankheg hunted in forests or grasslands where prey would wander into its traps.[1][4] If an area became too barren, the ankheg moved on to other, more lucrative areas.[4] Ankheg tunnels were sometimes filled with the remains of victims, eggs, or chitin.[1] Their tunnels would sometimes be around 60 to 150 feet long and 5 feet high.[6][4] Hollow tunnel ends were used for lair purposes, such as sleeping or hibernation.[4]

The ankheg was an ambush predator that waited around 5–10 feet underground[6][4] for prey to wander into position. The attack was quick, as the prey was crushed and ground in its mandibles and assaulted with acidic digestive enzymes. If a foe proved too difficult, the ankheg could also squirt acid to take it down.[1] If several ankhegs were attacking a group, the ankhegs would try to attack different targets. If prey was attacked by more then one ankheg, the ankhegs would just play tug-of-war with the unfortunate prey.[6]

Ankhegs had darkvision and tremorsense for 60 feet, and strong chitin armor.[1] The "attack" acid was part of the digestive system for the creature, so it couldn't digest food for six hours after a discharge.[4] Ankhegs that lived in colder areas hibernated during winter. During this time, an ankheg took nutrients through its shell and its antenna.[citation needed]

Ankhegs mated in autumn, when the fertilized female would kill the male to lay 6–12 eggs inside him. Usually, a high number of eggs survived and hatched within two to ten days and started to feed.[2]

An ankheg broodling did not hunt and remained hidden, while its mother brought it sustenance.[2] After a year, the young were able to fend for themselves.[4]

Around the second year, the young ankheg shed its chitin before winter. It took a little less than ten days to complete the process and grow a new shell. During this time, the youngling was slower and more vulnerable. To defend itself, it secreted a fluid that smelled like rotten fruit. This defense could backfire, as some would seek out the smell.[4]

Ankhegs could prove to be useful for a farmer. Provided it stayed alive, its tunnels could bring in water and its excrement contained enriching minerals.[1] Ankheg burrows also aerated the nearby land which could improve crop yields by as much as 15%, providing the ankheg population was managed.[12]

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An ankheg shell harvested from a slain ankheg weighed 100 lbs. Armorers like Taerom Fuiruim in Beregost could forges armor from the shells. It took three days to make. The armor was very nearly as effective as full plate mail, but weighed considerably less and could be worn by warriors who usually couldn't wear such heavy armor. Taerom claimed to sell ankheg armor to rich nobles for 20,000 gp. However, if one provided the shell, he would charge just 4000 gp for a set of completed armor.[12]